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CatholicELATeacher
Guest
I’ve always wondered why sweet little old ladies seem to take the longest. What mortal sins could they possibly have to confess?
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whatistrue
Guest
Tis_Bearself
Patron
I’ve wondered the same. I usually conclude either they don’t have anyone much to talk to and the priest is humoring them by letting them chat, or else that they haven’t been to confession in the last 50 years and decided they better go back before they pass away.
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CatholicELATeacher
Guest
Probably the former, since they’re likely every day Mass goers.
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CatholicELATeacher
Guest
I try to confess quickly but thoroughly, then add that I repent any sins I’ve forgotten to mention. Of course I don’t have any control over how much guidance the priest wants to give.
I use the screen, too. I wonder if that has any effect on length of time?
I use the screen, too. I wonder if that has any effect on length of time?
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Irishmom2
Guest
It was edward_george1 that I heard say it first on this site. 
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JanR
Guest
On the other hand, those penitents may have a LOT of sins to confess.
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VeryBlessed
Guest
“Bless me Father, for I have sinned… In addition to my others sins, I confess harboring anger and unforgiveness towards the long-winded penitents in front of me in line, and for retaliating by letting the air out of their car tires.”
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Minks
Guest
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runningdude
Guest
I concur. I’ve idly wondered what others confess. Then I realized I don’t want to know.
People confess the darkest, saddest moments in their lives. To an outsider, such confessed actions may seem trivial; handling such information properly is a profound duty. Confession is such an act of intimacy; taking private thoughts and ruminations, and articulating them to another human being, and hearing the words “I absolve thee of thy sins”.
What a little old lady confesses may well be something that seems trivial. But I don’t want that burden of knowing what she considers unspeakable.
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Catholic361
Guest
I also use the screen for confession i prefer it that way the parish i go only has one priest to hear confession there use to be two but one got assigned to a different parish so we only have one priest so we have long lines as well outside of Easter, Christmas etc. So I understand the frustration but also the importance of confession and I covered Easter vigil '18
If they’re like one of the little old ladies that attends a bible study with me, it’s because she’s uses her “confession” time not only to confess her sins but also to complain to the priest about other issues and other people. This little old lady in my bible study often discusses quite openly during the bible study what she talked about during a “confession” with the priest.
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Minks
Guest
Maybe the leader could put a bug into her ear regarding others being uncomfortable with her recitation of her sins and the sins of others. Or, possibly, someone could suggest reading and discussing the parts of the Bible that delineate what constitutes the different types of sins and exhort us to avoid those sins. The idea here, of course, is to cover her continual diatribe without pointing a finger. 
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Socrates92
Guest
While that may true for the odd person here and there, it is unlikely to be true for all dozen of the people in front of you. It’s understandable to be frustrated about waiting 2hrs during regular confession time. And you can’t expect everyone to make an appointment every week outside regular confession time either. People are likely avoiding confession because the line is so long, so it is a problem that the priest should address.
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littlekitten
Guest
Most people go to confession for confession, some people go to confession to talk … about things related to their spiritual life ofc. You can’t tell people what to do, but you can call to tell the priest about your schedule and make appointment or find another parish.
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Convert3
Guest
I always go early to be first in line.
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Catholic361
Guest
Wow what’s next this person possibly blaming the priest for “breaking the seal of confession” even though he clearly hasn’t? What could possibly happen to the priest? Investion of the poor priest who didn’t break the seal even if she accused him of it would he end up being thrown out of the priesthood even though he kept quiet and didn’t break the seal?
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When she starts to go off tangent, the leader of the bible study tries to steer the conversation back to the topic on hand.Maybe the leader could put a bug into her ear regarding others being uncomfortable with her recitation of her sins and the sins of others. Or, possibly, someone could suggest reading and discussing the parts of the Bible that delineate what constitutes the different types of sins and exhort us to avoid those sins. The idea here, of course, is to cover her continual diatribe without pointing a finger.
She at least has the decency not to name names. She never mentions the name of the priests nor the people she’s complaining about (unless it’s Donald Trump who she hates). She can be a handful at times though…
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Minks
Guest
Thank you, Father, for explaining the situation from your point of view from sitting in that middle seat in the confessional.
Sometimes it’s difficult for us in line to be all-inclusive in our reasoning when we’re wanting our immediate needs satisfied.- Status